Insulated inhalation enhancement device

ABSTRACT

An insulated inhalation enhancement device is comprised of a vacuum flask, a removable lid and at least two ports which provide access to the interior of the flask. At least one of the ports enables a hollow tube or pipe to connect the upper portion of the interior of the flask to a mouthpiece or other means to inhale. Another one or more ports allows for a hollow tube or pipe to connect the lower portion of the interior of the flask to a source of inhalants exterior to the flask. And either one of the two ports, or a third port can be configured to connect the upper portion of the interior of the vacuum flask with air that is exterior to the vacuum flask.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to an apparatus useful forimproving the experience of inhaling an inhalant, such as smoke producedby smoking, or aerosol produced by vaping, by drawing the inhalantthrough water, thereby cooling, filtering and moisturizing the inhalant,wherein the apparatus is vacuum insulated.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, it has been considered desirable when smoking tobacco,flavored tobacco, cannabis or other herbals to both cool the smoke andadd moisture before inhalation. Both of these modifications to the smokehave the effect of making the smoke “smoother”, or less irritating tothe throat, and are generally considered to improve the overall “smokingexperience”. A device to draw the smoke through a reservoir of water hastraditionally been used to help achieve these two goals. Devices whichdraw smoke through water include a hookah and a bong, or “water pipe”.

Because smoke resulting from the combustion of smoking products is hot,one function of the water is to cool the smoke. Since the mass of thereservoir of water is large compared to the mass of the smoking product,the water will have the effect of cooling hot smoke. It is stillpreferable to some users to cool the smoke further, and if that is thecase, ice can be added to the water. Cold water will cool smokeparticles more than room temperature water and can further improve theperceived “smoothness” of the smoking experience.

The use of hot water to cool the smoke to make it smoother is alsoknown. Hot water is still much cooler than the combusted smoking productand will therefore serve most of the same purpose as cool water incooling the smoke. But the use of hot water is said to provide certainadvantages over the use of cold water. One such advantage is that hotwater will capture less of the uncombusted smoking material than coldwater will capture, so that the dose received per inhalation of theactive ingredient in the smoking product is greater for the hot watercase than for the cold water case. Also, the use of hot water willresult in additional water vapor being inhaled, which can improve thesmoothness of the smoking sensation.

It is also desirable for taste reasons to remove the “Tar” and “Ash”from the smoke as well. “Tar” is a catch-all term referring to the manychemical compounds produced by the combustion of smoking products,including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Ash refers to theresidue resulting from incomplete combustion of the smoking product.Although studies differ in conclusion, it may be the case that drawingthe smoke through water helps to remove some of the Tar and Ash. Forexample, there may be epidemiologic evidence that tobacco smokers whosmoke use water filtration have a lower incidence of cancer than thosewho do not.

Devices suitable for smoothing smoke intended for inhalation have beenused for many centuries. The hookah dates back to the 16th century inSoutheast Asia and became popular among the gentrified classes. Sincethe use of a hookah was a social activity, in general hookas aredecorative and ornate, however, in construction and function they aresimilar to a bong or water pipe in that they provide a means to drawsmoke through water. One way hookahs differ from bongs in the technicalsense in the way in which the smoking product is heated. In a bong, thesmoking product is heated directly, and the smoke from combustion of thesmoking product is what is drawn through the water and inhaled. In thecase of hookahs, charcoal is used to heat air, which is then passedthrough the smoking product. The heated air causes the smoking productto smoke, and the smoke is drawn through water and inhaled. Hookahs candiffer from bongs in another sense, which is that generally hookahs havemultiple inhalation ports so they can be used by a plurality of smokerssimultaneously.

Vaping has become popular in the last 10 years, and often used as analternative to smoking. The first e-cigarette patent was filed byHerbert Gilbert in 1963, although credit for the modern version is givento Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist and inventor, who used a high frequencyultrasound to vaporize a jet of liquid containing nicotine into anaerosol. Vaping is an alternative nicotine delivery system and isconsidered healthier than cigarette smoking because it does not producemany of the unhealthy by-products of cigarette smoking. Vaping devicescome in a large variety of types. Some types include cannabis vapes,nicotine vapes, e-cigarettes, pod vapes, box mods, squonkers, vape pens,THC oil pens, portable vaporizers, and desktop vaporizers.

Smoothing an aerosol before inhalation is not traditionally known.However, aerosol, like smoke, can also irritate the throat, even thoughthe aerosol is not generally hot. The experience of vaping can thereforealso be improved by smoothing the resultant aerosol by drawing itthrough water. As is the case for smoke from smoking products, theeffect of drawing the aerosol through the water can be to add moistureto the aerosol before inhalation. The addition of moisture has theeffect of making the aerosol smoother, and can improve the vapingexperience.

Aromatherapy has been used as a holistic healing treatment for hundredsof years. Aromatic plant components have been incorporated into balms,and essential oils and have been recognized to possess both physical andpsychological benefits. The term “aromatherapy” was coined by Frenchchemist Rene-Maurice Gattefossé who discovered that lavender seemed tospeed the healing of burns.

Aromatherapy has been used to offer multiple benefits, including themanagement of pain, improved sleep quality, reduced stress, thetreatment of headaches and migraines, the alleviation of side effects ofchemotherapy, eased discomfort of labor, the fighting of bacteria,improvement of digestion and a boost to immunity. Some means ofexperiencing the benefit of aromatherapy include inhalation of theessential oil by adding it to water and heating the water untilsignificant evaporation occurs. Inhalation of the evaporant is then themeans by which the essential oils are delivered to the user.

Inhalation of an evaporant is not likely to be made smoother by passingthe evaporant through water, because the evaporant comprisesmolecular-sized particles, which are generally too small to irritate thethroat. However, aromatherapy evaporation devices tend to be larger andless portable. Therefore some users prefer to experience aromatherapythrough vaping, since vaping provides a portable and convenient means toexperience aromatherapy. But vaping produces an aerosol, which canirritate the throat. Therefore, it is desirable to smooth the aerosolproduced by vaping an aromatherapy essential oil, before inhalation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the invention described herein generally relate toapparatus useful for improving the experience of smoking or vaping byefficiently drawing smoke though water wherein the apparatus is vacuuminsulated. The following presents a simplified summary of someembodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understandingof the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of theinvention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of theinvention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detaileddescription that is presented later.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a modificationof a portable vacuum flask. The embodiment includes a means for holdingsmoking material such that the smoking product can be heated by anexternal heat source such as a flame, a means for enabling smoke fromthe smoking product to enter an interior chamber of the vacuum flaskapproximately half filled with water at a point submerged in the water,a means for smoothing the smoke by allowing it to pass through the watergenerally contained within a lower portion of the interior chamber ofthe vacuum flask if the flask is maintained upright, and a means toinhale the smoke that passes through the water and forms above the waterlevel in the upper portion of the interior chamber. So modified, theadvantages of a portable vacuum flask, including the ability to keep hotliquids and foods hot or cold liquids and foods cold for an extendedperiod of time, are then imparted to a bong or hookah, such that theembodiment maintains the main advantages of both.

A vaping device provides a means to convert a liquid vaping product intoan aerosol and inhale the aerosol. The liquid typically comprisesPropylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, nicotine and flavorings. A vapingdevice with a refillable cartridge enables a wide variety of othervaping products and inhalants to be contemplated such as menthol oil.Menthol oil could be used in conjunction with cold or hot water in theapparatus. Another embodiment of the present invention, then, includes ameans for substituting a vaping device such as a vape pen or device,also known as an e-cigarette, for the smoking material, such that uponthe action of inhalation of a mouthpiece of the embodiment, the aerosolproduced by the vaping device is drawn through the water in the vacuumflask and into the air in the upper portion of the vacuum flask.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is suitable for charcoalto be used as the external heat source to heat the smoking product. Yetanother embodiment of the present invention is suitable for an electricheater to be used as the external heat source used to heat the smokingproduct.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is configured with ameans for enabling one or more smoking products and/or one or morevaping devices, such that different smoking products may be smokedsimultaneously.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is configured with ameans for enabling one or more smoking products and/or one or morevaping devices, and with a plurality of means to inhale the smoke thatpasses through the water and forms above the water level within theinterior chamber such that a plurality of smokers can utilize theapparatus of this disclosure simultaneously.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is configured with acontainer adjacent the vacuum flask, suitable for holding smokingproduct. The container is removably attached to the vacuum flask, forexample by way of threading or a hinge or friction or glue. If the waterin the interior of the vacuum flask is cold when it is added, or ifsomething cold is added to it, for example, ice, the exterior of thevacuum flask will also become cold. If the container is configured toshare a wall with the vacuum flask, the container will also be cooled. Acool space is advantageous when storing certain types of smoking productfor ease of handling.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention configured such that theone or more of the tube or pipe that connects the upper portion of theinterior of the flask with a mouthpiece or other means to inhale, andthe tube or pipe that connects the lower portion of the interior of theflask with a source of inhalants exterior to the flask are disposable,so that regular cleaning of the invention is reduced or eliminated.

As yet another embodiment of the present invention is configured withvarious indicia, images, text and texture so as to confer differentaesthetic aspects to the invention.

The invention of this disclosure described herein has multipleinnovative aspect and desirable attributes. Without limiting the scopeof the claims, some of the potentially advantageous features of theapparatus of this disclosure will herein be enumerated.

Potential advantages of the invention over some bongs or hookahsinclude:

-   -   1. The insulating nature of the vacuum flask enables cold water        to stay cold and hot water to stay hot for extended periods of        time such that the water temperature in the flask can be        generally maintained at the desired temperature until smoking is        begun as well as throughout the duration of the smoking        activity.    -   2. The ease of transport compared to a typical bong or hookah        due to its generally lighter weight and generally smaller size.    -   3. A lower likelihood of breakage compared to a typical hookah        or bong.    -   4. A lower likelihood of significant water spillage if the        Hydrobong is dropped on the floor or ground.    -   5. The apparatus is adaptable to both smoking products and        vaping devices.    -   6. The apparatus is adaptable to smoke several smoking products        and/or vaping devices simultaneously.    -   7. The apparatus is adaptable for use with either cold water or        hot water.    -   8. The ability to supply cold or hot water to the device at one        location and transport the device to another location and smoke        at the new location.    -   9. The relative ease of cleaning the device compared to a        typical bong or water pipe, since the interior chamber of the        device can be accessed without going through long tube that it        difficult to clean.    -   10. The apparatus does not need to have a guard or ice pinch,        devices to keep the water away from splashing on the user and to        prevent ice from escaping, respectively, that are commonly found        in typical bongs. The lid portion of the apparatus already        serves the purpose of the splash guard by keeping the water        inside the inner chamber, as well as the purpose of the ice        pinch by preventing any ice in the water from escaping from the        inner chamber.    -   11. If the intake tube is removed and without certain indicia,        the device looks similar to a regular vacuum flask, a commonly        available means to transport liquids while maintaining their        temperature.    -   12. The apparatus can be configured in different sizes. For        example, measured in the volume of liquid the vacuum flask can        hold 12 fluid ounces or 20 fluid ounces or 32 fluid ounces or 64        fluid ounces.    -   13. The apparatus can be configured to use charcoal to heat the        smoking product.    -   14. The apparatus can be configured with multiple inhalation        means so that a plurality of smokers can use the device        simultaneously.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent andimportant features of the present disclosure so that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood andso that the present contribution to the art can be more fullyappreciated. Additional features of the invention will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readilyutilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures forcarrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should berealized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent structures donot depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention configured to accommodate a vaping device

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of vacuum flask 100 with lid 101.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the upper portion of vacuum flask 100configured to accommodate a smoking product

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the upper portion of vacuum flaskconfigured to accommodate a smoking product heated by nail 402.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED Exemplary Embodiments

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modescontemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention. Variousmodifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, since the general principles of the present invention have beendefined herein to specifically provide an improved system and method forsmoking or vaping.

Bongs are devices normally used indoors in a home while hookahs arenormally used indoors in a home or in a restaurant. It can be consideredadvantageous to be able to use a smoke smoothing device in a differentlocation than a home or a restaurant, for example outdoors on a hike orin nature. Existing smoke smoothing devices are not well suited forportability. Most bongs are made of glass, are large, and are of awkwardshape. Hookahs are very often made from metal, but their size and shapeare not well suited to portability. Mostly, bongs and hookahs are meantto be used on a table, generally next to a source of cold or hot waterand ice. Keeping the smoke smoothing device on a table close to waterand ice therefore generally limits the smoking experience to an indoorexperience.

Further, bongs and hookahs are not generally rugged. One definition ofrugged could be the ability to withstand a fall from a few feet abovethe ground, without irreparable damage. Most bongs are made of glass,and could shatter if dropped. Most hookahs are made of metal, and coulddent if dropped. In the case of either a hookah or a bong, the externalconfigurations which enable inhalation or the placement of smokingproduct are often more complex in shape. If the hookah or bong isdropped, these external configurations could easily be damaged orrendered unusable. Further, if the bong or hookah is dropped with waterin it, there is high likelihood that the water will spill.

The mechanism used by both hookahs and bongs to smooth smoke is byutilizing the process of aeration, by filling the device approximatelyhalf way with water and drawing the smoke into the aerator and throughthe water. A tube from where the smoke is generated to a location underthe water provides air communication, and the partial vacuum resultingfrom normal human inhalation to the region above the water surfacecreates lower atmospheric pressure above the water and has the effect ofdrawing or pulling the smoke from the tube through the water. Aeratingthe smoke in this manner has the effect of filtering the smoke of someTar, Ash and some of the larger smoke particles.

Generally, the more finely the smoke can be separated, the greater thesmoothing effect of the water. If the smoke is introduced into the waterat only a single point such as a hole at the end of a tube, the amountof smoke which will interact with the water will be small, and thesmoothing effect of the water will be limited. In order to increase theamount of interaction between the smoke and the water, the smoke must bebroken up into the smallest possible groups of particles. To this end, adiffuser or percolator, which is a device to increase the interfacialarea between a gas phase and a liquid phase by introducing the gas tothe liquid through a large number of small holes, is placed at the endof the tube and the tube is closed off at the end, forcing the smoke toenter the water through the percolator.

Vaping is usually carried out by a hand-held device which is moresuitable for portability and can be used without being near to a tableor a water source. The aerosol produced by vaping consists of the vapeliquid particles, which are a combination of a carrier liquid typicallycomprising Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin, and the desiredinhalant ingredients. Such particles can be harsh on the throat. It istherefore the case that with vaping, the desire to smooth the inhaledaerosol also exists. By drawing the vape through water, moisture isadded to the aerosol which creates a smoother inhalation experience.

A device which then creates the sensation of smoothing an inhalant canbe applied to many different kinds of inhalants. Herbs are among themost common inhalants. Herbs like tobacco and cannabis are well known,while other herbs that may have medicinal properties, sometimes called“healing herbs”, include Mullein for lung infections, White Horehoundfor asthma, Hyssop for cleansing, purging and purification, RedRaspberry Leaf to neutralize nicotine poisoning, Bergamot as a lungantiseptic, St John's Wort as a mood stabilizer, Skullcap for reducinganxiety, and Wormwood for pain relief. Typically, the medicinalproperties of herbs would be delivered to the body by way of inhalationof smoke produced by burning the herbs, and thus may be irritating tothe throat. Therefore it may be desirable to smooth smoke produced byherbs before inhaling.

Terpenes are highly aromatic compounds that determine the smell of manyplants and herbs, and are used to create the flavors and scents of manyeveryday products, such as perfumes and skin creams. In nature, terpenescan act as pollinators in plants or are useful in plant health.Aromatherapy is the inhalation of certain terpenes for the purpose ofenhancing health and well-being. There is some evidence which supportsclaims of healthful aspects of aromatherapy. For example, the Japanesepractice of being in a forest atmosphere has been shown to reduceconcentration of cortisol, lower pulse rate and lower blood pressurecompared to being in urban environments. The terpene beta-caryophyllenefound in basil, cloves, oregano, rosemary, black pepper, and cannabishas been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, andpain-relieving benefits. Other terpenes are said to have healingproperties. The terpene pinene found in rosemary, pine, basil, parsleyand cannabis is said to be antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatoryand anti-carcinogenic. The terpene limonene found in rosemary,peppermint, fruit rinds, eucalyptus, juniper and cannabis is said to begood for digestion, anxiety, depression and the immune system. Theterpene linalool found in cinnamon, lavender and cannabis is said to begood for sleep, relaxation, anxiety and depression. And the terpenemyrcene found in sweet basil, hops, mangos, lemongrass and thyme is saidto be good for pain relief, muscle tension and depression. Terpenes canalso affect the way in which cannabinoids like THC and CBD affect theuser. For example, different terpenes can have the effect of causing THCor CBD to be “more uplifting” or “more relaxing”.

Aromatherapy inhalation is generally carried out using essential oils.The oils can be inhaled directly, but are more effective if diffused orvolatilized before inhalation. One means of volatilization includes anoil diffuser in which a sonicator is used to atomize oil into smallparticles which form a mist in the air. Another means of volatilizationincludes heating the diluted oil and inhaling the resultant vapor. Yetanother means of volatilization is the use of vape technology, in whichthe essential oil is heated to create an aerosol before inhaling. Aswith normal vaping, it is therefore the case that the desire to smooththe inhaled aerosol of essential oils may also exist.

An additional embodiment of the present invention comprises a portablevacuum flask modified with a port, also known as a “carburetor”,extending from the exterior of the flask though to the upper portion ofthe interior of the flask, where the port is suitable for supporting acheck valve, which allows air to communicate with inner chamber from theexterior of the flask, but does not allow water from the interiorchamber to escape. The flask has a lid which can be securely fit to thetop, which controls the flow of air and the contents of the flaskinterior such as water and ice.

In a preferred embodiment, the lid has at least two ports allowing airpassage from the exterior of the flask to the interior of the flask. Atleast one port air connects the upper portion of the interior of thechamber with a mouthpiece that allows a user to draw air from the upperportion of the chamber interior through the act of inhalation. And atleast one port air connects smoke from the smoking product or aerosolfrom the vape device into the lower portion of the interior chamberthrough a tube comprising an aerator. The aerator comprises a pluralityof small holes at a lower portion of the tube.

In another embodiment, the port which air connects smoke from thesmoking product or aerosol from the vape device into the lower portionof the interior chamber through a tube comprising an aerator can beconfigured to act as the carburetor, allowing air to flow from theexterior of the flask though to the upper portion of the interior of theflask. Reconfiguring said port is achieved by removing aerator tube 205,allowing said port to act as the carburetor by holding or removing athumb or finger over the end of tube 107 during inhalation.

The lid is attached to the body of the vacuum flask, typically by way ofa threaded connection, but may be attached by a friction fit, a hinge, aclamp, a magnet, or any known means of attachment. The vacuum flask isconfigured such that the circumference of the opening at the top of theflask which receives the lid, is generally smaller than thecircumference of the rest of the flask. Typically, then, the neck of thevacuum flask with have a flange at its base, in order to accommodate alarger circumference below the neck in the vacuum flask.

A rigid member known as a “deck” is held firmly to the flask, extendingperpendicularly to the vertical orientation of the flask, by surroundingthe neck of the flask with a snug fit. The snug fit is achieved by meansof a large hole contained in the deck, referred to as a supporting hole,where the supporting hole is only slightly larger than the diameter ofthe neck of the flask, positioned over the neck. The deck is thusconstrained from sliding in the plane of the deck since the supportinghole surrounds the neck of the bottle on all sides. And the deck isconstrained from tilting by virtue of the circumference of thesupporting hole being only slightly larger than the circumference of theneck. Since there is a broadening flange at the base of the neck, thedeck is further constrained in the downward vertical direction, and isconstrained in the upward vertical direction due to gravity. The deck isgenerally further generally constrained from rotation due to friction.Therefore the deck is generally constrained in all six degrees offreedom, and will remain at the same orientation with respect to thebottle at all times.

In addition to the supporting hole that fits securely over the neck ofthe vacuum flask, the deck is further configured with a smaller bracinghole placed distal to the flask, providing structural support to enablethe tube air connected to the aerator to be held with upwardsorientation at a fixed position with respect to the flask. The tube isheld to the bracing hole in the deck by means of a gasket. Rigidattachments to the tube then enable the placement of a container forsmoking material to be air connected to the tube, and to be held suchthat the upwards orientation and position with respect to the flask ismaintained. The orientation of the container thus maintained ensuresthat when the flask is held upright and steady, the smoking materialcontainer is also upright and steady.

In additional embodiments, the smoking material is heated to a highertemperature by use of a platform known as a “nail” to hold the smokingmaterial. The nail is normally made of material that can withstand highheat such as a metal, and the heat source used to heat the nail istypically higher temperature than a heat source used to directly heatsmoking product. For example, a propane torch could be used instead of alighter. The torch is used to heat the metal plate rather than thesmoking product directly. The metal plate gets hot, and heats thesmoking product. Smoke from the smoking product is drawn into the flaskby way of a hole located above the smoking product. In thisconfiguration, is can be desirable to keep the source of heat furtheraway from the user. In that case, an extender apparatus can be used,which air connects the smoking product to the vacuum flask further awayfrom the flask. The extender comprises rigid tubing and attachmentswhich maintain the position and orientation of the Nail, and providesair communication between the smoke from the smoking product and theupwardly pointing rigid connector.

The device in its preferred embodiment is then normally used by fillingthe interior of the interior chamber half way with water, providing asource of smoking material or attaching a vaping device, closing thecarburetor with a thumb or finger, lighting the smoking product orreleasing the aerosol from a vaping device, and beginning to inhale. Thesuction produced by the action of inhaling forces air to be drawn intothe interior chamber through the aerator, into the water, and into theupper portion of the interior chamber. During the process of inhalation,the hole is released, allowing air to enter the upper portion of theinterior chamber of the flask, and enabling all of the smoke or aerosolfrom a vaping device to be inhaled.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is represented in FIGS.1-4 . FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus according to an embodimentof the present invention configured to accommodate a vaping device. Theapparatus comprises a vacuum flask 100 configured with carburetor 108. Ascrew top or other snug fitting lid 101 is provided, with an attachedcarabiner 106 for affixing the apparatus to a belt or strap. Brass elbow102 is connected through one of the ports in the lid at a 90 degreeangle. Tube 107 extends out from brass elbow 102 and passes through thebracing hole in rigid deck 105, held firmly in place by gasket 104. Tube107 is configured to be suitable for attaching vaping device 109.

A detailed view of lid 101 is provided, showing a threaded means ofattachment 110 to the flask. A second detailed view of lid 101 isprovided, showing the underside of the lid, in which extension tube 112and connector tube 111 can be seen. Tube 112 is air connected to themouthpiece 103, while connector tube 111 is air connected to vapingdevice 109.

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of vacuum flask 100 with lid 101. The flaskcomprises outer shell layer 202 and inner chamber wall 203. The spacebetween outer shell layer 202 and inner chamber wall 203 is a partialvacuum, enabling thermal insulation between interior chamber 201 and theenvironment. The interior chamber is about half filled with water 204.Aerator tube 205 supports percolator 207, comprised of a plurality ofsmall holes and closed end 206 shown at the lower portion of aeratortube 205, where percolator 207 is submerged in the water.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the upper portion of vacuum flask 100configured to accommodate a smoking product. Tube 107 extends downwardto below rigid deck 105, and is attached by snug fit to glass elbow 301and then passes upwards through the bracing hole in the deck, firmlyheld in place with respect to position and orientation by gasket 103.Glass adaptor 302 in air communication with and snugly fit onto glasselbow 301, maintains position and orientation with respect to the flask.Glass adaptor 302 then air communicates with and holds with respect toposition and orientation glass bowl 303, configured to be suitable forholding smoking product.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the upper portion of vacuum flaskconfigured to accommodate a smoking product heated by nail 402. Extender401 is firmly attached to glass elbow 301, extending air communicationoutward, away from the vacuum flask. Extender 401 is configured to holdand maintain air communication with nail 402. Smoking product placedwithin nail 402 is heated with higher temperature flame source 403.

Example 1

The advantage of using a diffuser can be detected in the smoothness ofthe smoke. A survey of smokers was conducted to demonstrate theeffectiveness of the aerator. Five smokers were asked to use theapparatus of the present disclosure and rate their sense of smoothnesson a scale of 1 to 5, both with and without the aerator feature. Theresults of the test were tabulated. When using the apparatus without thediffuser, participants said that they experienced “smooth” draws, andgave it an average rating of 3.5/5. When using the apparatus with thediffuser, participants said that each draw of smoke was “unnoticeable”when inhaled, which allowed them to draw more smoke, and gave it anaverage rating of 5.0/5.

Example 2

An apparatus of the present disclosure was used to smoke one part of thecannabis plant suitable for use as smoking product known as “Flower”,“Nugget” or “Bud”. An appropriate amount of flower was ground using agrinding device. The apparatus was prepared by filling the chamber abouthalf full with cold water. The bowl was packed with the ground flower. Auser placed his mouth over the mouthpiece while his finger was placed onthe carburetor hole. A flame was brought in direct contact with theground flower while the mouthpiece was inhaled upon for about twoseconds. The finger was removed from the hole while exhalation tookplace. The procedure was repeated until the remaining smoke was clearedout. The product was then smoked to completion.

Example 3

An apparatus of the present disclosure was used to smoke a “push button”vape pen. A push-button vape pen activates a battery, heating thee-liquid when the bottom is depressed. The apparatus of the presentdisclosure was configured without a rigid deck, a rigid tube or a bowl.The mouthpiece end of the vape pen was inserted into the flexible tube.The pen was held with one hand while a finger was placed over thecarburerator hole. The user's mouth was positioned over the mouthpiece.The user pressed and held the vape pen button and inhaled. The userreleased the button and moved his finger from the hold. The user inhaledas much as desired.

Example 4

An apparatus of the present disclosure was used to smoke a “Dab Rig”. Adab rig uses a metal platform called a “Nail” to heat the smokingproduct instead of a bowl. The metal platform, typically made oftitanium, ceramic or quartz can deliver a higher temperature to thesmoking product than direct flame, thereby providing a different smokingexperience. The female stem of the nail was connected to the male stemon the apparatus. The apparatus was filled about half full with water. Apropane blowtorch was used to heat the nail until it became red hot. Thetorch was removed and a count to 20 was carried out to allow time forsome cooling of the nail. A wand was used to place a small amount ofsmoking material on the nail and agitate it slightly to increase theamount of contact between the smoking product and the head of the nail.A finger was placed over the carbureator hole while inhaling through themouthpiece until water bubbles were formed. The product was inhaled asmuch as desired.

1. A inhalation enhancement system, comprising: a portable vacuum flaskhaving an interior with a lower portion and an upper portion; aremovable lid; and at least two access ports, wherein: one or more ofthe access ports enables air communication between the upper portion ofthe vacuum flask interior and a mouthpiece; and, one or more of theaccess ports can be configured to maintain air communication between ahollow tube extending to the lower portion of the flask and a source ofinhalants; and, One or more of the access ports can be configured toenable air communication between the upper portion of the vacuum flaskinterior and air outside the vacuum flask.
 2. The inhalation enhancementsystem of claim 1 wherein the system is generally rugged.
 3. Theinhalation enhancement system of claim 1 wherein the system comprises acontainer adjacent the vacuum flask, suitable for holding smokingproduct.
 4. The inhalation enhancement system of claim 1 wherein the oneor more tube or pipe that connects the upper portion of the interior ofthe flask with the mouthpiece or other means to inhale, and the tube orpipe that connects the lower portion of the interior of the flask with asource of inhalants exterior to the flask, is/are disposable.
 5. Theinhalation enhancement system of claim 1 wherein the enhancement is asmoothing effect.
 6. The inhalation enhancement system of claim 1wherein the enhancement is a cooling effect.
 7. The inhalationenhancement system of claim 1 wherein an inhalant is a source ofterpenes.
 8. The inhalation enhancement system of claim 1 wherein aninhalant is smoke from a smoking product.
 9. The inhalation enhancementsystem of claim 1 wherein an inhalant is smoke from tobacco.
 10. Theinhalation enhancement system of claim 1 wherein an inhalant is smokefrom a tobacco product.
 11. The inhalation enhancement system of claim 1wherein an inhalant is smoke from cannabis.
 12. The inhalationenhancement system of claim 1 wherein an inhalant is smoke from ahealing herb.
 13. The inhalation enhancement system of claim 1 whereinan inhalant is an aerosol produced by vaping.
 14. The inhalationenhancement system of claim 1 wherein an inhalant is an aerosol from anaromatherapy product.
 15. The inhalation enhancement system of claim 1wherein an inhalant is an evaporant from an aromatherapy product. 16.The inhalation enhancement system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of theinhalants are inhaled simultaneously.